Grease rack



Feb. 14, 1933. 5 Q HOUGE ,897,053

GREASE RACK Filed Sept. 2, 1951 Zyl Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEVERT 0. HOUGE, OF SLATER, IOWA GREASE RACK Application led September 2, 1931.V Serial No. 560,782.

i for supporting an automobile, so that the automobile may be tipped to an inclined position where access is easily had to the undersurface of the chassis for lubricating parts and bearings thereof.

More particularly, it is my object to provide a grease rack having a pivoted platform for supporting an automobile in inclined greasing position and inclined tracks of novel character for conveniently positioningr the automobile on the platform.

A further object is to provide inclined tracks having removable track portions to facilitate removal of the automobile from the platform after having been positioned thereon by driving the automobile up the tracks and the upper wheels oi" the upper ends of the tracks.

Still a further object is to provide a prop pivoted on the platform and axle rests slidablle; thereon for facilitating-use of the grease rac With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a grease rack embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing an automobile diagrammatically thereon and a dotted line position as well as a full line position of the platform and automobile.

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation of the grease rack.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, illustrating a track portion in a different position by dotted lines.

Figures 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views shpwing the operation of the grease rack; an

Figure 7 is a plan view of an adjustable platform mounting for the grease rack.

@n the accompanying drawing, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a base pla-te. The base plate 10 may be secured to a concrete floor or the like 12 by means of anchor bolts 14 and is provided with upstanding brackets 16. Supported in the upstanding brackets 16, is a rock shaft i.

18. The rock shaft 18 supports bearings 20.

The bearings 20, in turn, support. a platform A consisting of side rails 22 connected by cross rails 24, 26 and 28. The bearings 20 are substantially centrally located with respect to the length of the platform A and the member 28 maybe made comparatively heavier than the members 24 and 26 to normally cause the rack A to remain tipped in one predetermined position. A U-shaped prop 30 is pivoted to the opposite end of the platform A.

For the purpose of positioning an automobile on the platform A, I provide tracks B. The tracks B have stationary portions 32 mounted on a frame 34 and movable portions 36. The portions 36 rest at their upper ends on auxiliary tracks 38 located beneath them and at their lower ends on the floor 12. They are secured permanently to the floor by means of hinge members 40 pivoted to hinge members 42. The hinge members 42 extend into the floor 12 in the event it is made of concrete, or may be bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a wooden iioor or the like.

Slidably mounted on theY rails 22 of the platform A, I provi-de aXlc blocks 44, which may have ianges extending down and under the upper flanges of the rails 22, which are preferably of I-beam construction. Stop blocks 46 are provided for limiting movement of the aXle blocks 44 in one direction relative to the platform A.

Practical operation In the operation of my device, an automobile is driven up the tracks B when the parts are in the full line positions shown in Figures 1 and 2. rllhe front and rear wheels and front and rear axles of the automobile are indicated at 48, 50, 52 and'54, respectiveswungto the dotted line positionsshown in I ly. The automobile, in vbeingjdrivenfulp the tracks B, Vwill assumethe full line position rear'aXle 54 also.

shown in igure 2, with `the front aXle 52 beginning to engage the axle blocks 44. The

axle 52 will` thenengage the lugs 44a` of thev axle blocks 44 and siide the blocks along the rails 22 tothe dotted lineposition shown .in

Figuref'2, `wherein the front i"Wheels 48l are `being driven olf the upperends of thetracks 1B, thus swinging the platform A counter'- clockwiseand lifting therearrweightedend 28 thereof,vso that the-platform engages the It will be noted'that overjhailf the automobile isstill `back ofthe Vfpiv'ft shaft 18," so that the automobile canfbefurtherdriven f through the traction-of vtherearwheels 50 on the tracks B,"the axle blocks 44 continuing tov-slide along theplatform A and the rear aXle 54 likewise s lidingi V1 l v Upon cessation of traction, which will occur when the .automobile is overbalaneed, the

platform A will swingto the'position shown stop.v The trackportionsjmay now be Figures "1 and114,rso that thej,au'tomobile onv the platform A can bet-ippedfto Athe inclined I 30 Position shownPinlFi'gunef 6A andrmay *beA mobile may beremoved from theplatform'A- locked in this positionlby inserting apin 56 through an extension lugon onelfofrthe brack; ets 16. This v is'thefgreasing vposition, and the `prop 30 maybeswungoutrof 'the-way, againstl the radiator 58. 'Afteithe greasing operations have, been completed, theY autoby drivingxit backwards, to and beyond `the dottedline position shown in Figure 6.` D ur.`

ingv this portion. of the operation, the driver of the automobile needsthehelpfof an as-` sistant to keep the prop end of the automof bile VA raised s uiiciently to providel traction for *theiaXle blocks 44 rearwardly 4 `downthe track cated over the track portions 32'beforercf moving the 'automobile `from the grease rack.

to the position shown in Figure 4.2l Vand in dotted lines in `Figure 6, whereafter the auto-V mobile may be drivenoff theplatform and portions 32 and the auxiliary tracks 38. u Y

.- n Win tev obvious' their uit' Vtrack poitionsBG. were not removable,.the automobile could not be'driven-othe platform A,Y bekcause the front wheels 48are oft' the tracks B, but removalk of thetrackportions 36 al- Vlows sufficient tipping of the platform', so

that the front wheels 48 `may beeasily lo# In Figure` 7 I have shown an adjustable mounting whereby to illustrate one adapta? tion of the greaserack for; use withwidely varying lengths of automobiles..` VIn this mounting, the brackets 166i vhave:"racks 57 for pinions 59 ,of the rockshaft l8ato mesh with and rest on. By rotating the shaft 1 180i 1 (a hand wheel '601being provided Sfo'r this jpurrf ment'lwthwsad traflxsit@Y faeiltatieiiral "of the' autombilefromths platform and,

pose) thepivot for the` platformV Amay 'be adjusted relative 'to thetracks B for permit# Y ting lproper operation of the grease' rack,

struction 'and arrangement'of the` parts of mydevice withoutdeparting from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my `intnt`iou `4"to hkove` by' my claims, any mode'd -Hform'sg of; Y .Structure orauselof; ime- Chanialt equivalents, Whfihimayvberecoil: r

I claim as. my invention .ably included within theirscope.

1.1In`a vease, rack for auto otedrlatform for. Supporting aaautomoble,

011 Saidlplatform bydlving theauwmebl up the tracks'and the V`wheels.atthe-,upper endv of' thejautomobilejof the l upper Vends-of @9 down the -trafcksj @fedrlatfo'rmion supporting@ automobile,- inclined tracks f for positioning; an" i automobile on:` 's ,aidv :platform by driving the I autofj 45.9

'mobile' upf `the tracks and 'the wheels at fthe V` upper. endfof the automobile Olii' the, upper ends of i the tracks, 'por-tionsV of' said; ftracks being removable toi allow'tipping ofsaid platform tolgapositionfwhere said wheelsare a jabovealignment with said tracks to faciliT tate lremoval of 'the .automobile from' the platform-'and down the tracks and auxiliary" tracks. in vplace of said `trackfportions for saidautomobile Vto tra-vel down during such "i 8. 'In a greaserack for automobiles, 'afp'ivo ted platform/for. supporting 'an automobile, inclined'tracks for'pcsltioning an automobile on said platformbydriving the automobile up" the tracks and lthe wheels the upper end oftheqau tomobile '0H ,the upper ends of l the tracks, portionsofmsaid tracks being removable toallow tippingiof said'platform to a positionwhere 'said' wheels are aboveyali'gn- 71"0 ment with .said tracks .to facilitate' removal of the automobile from the platform'and down the tracks and auxiliary tracks ini-place of said tracks portions and of ste'eperin clination -tha'n saidy track portions Efonsaid 120 automobileto'V t avell downV during f such removal.

Y`54." In agreasefrackffor automobiles;y apivot'ed'fplatform .for supporting van automobile, inclined tracks for positioning an automo'j bile on said platform by driving tlie automobile up tlie tracks and the wheels at tbe upper end of tlie automobile olf the upper ends of the tracks, means for limiting pivotal movement of said platform and said automobile in one direction after such positioning, portions of said tracks being removable to allow tipping of said platform in an opposite direction to a position where said wheels are above alignment with said tracks to facilitate removal of saiL automobile from said platform and down said tracks.

5. In a grease rack for automobiles, a pivoted platform for supporting an automobile, inclined tracks for positioning an automobile on said platform b v driving the automobile up tlie trac s and tlie wheels at tlie upper end of the automobile off the upper ends of the tracks, means for limiting pivotal movement of said platform and said automobile in one direction after such positioning, portions of said tracks being removable to allow tipping of said platform in an opposite direction to a position wliere said wheels are above alignment with said tracks and means for locking said platform in suoli position.

6. In a grease rack for automobiles, a pivoted platform for supporting an automobile, inclined tracks for positioning an automobile on said platform by driving the automobile up the tracks and the wheels at tbe upper end of the automobile off tlie upper ends of the tracks, portions of said tracks being pivoted to swing from tlieir initial position to facilitate removal of said automobile from said platform and down said tracks.

7. In a grease rack for automobiles, a pivoted platform for supporting an automobile, inclined tracks for positioning an autoincbile on said platform by driving tlie automobile up the tracks and the wheels at the upper end of tlie automobile off the upper ends of tlie tracks, portions of said tracks being pivoted to swing from their initial position to facilitate removal of said automobile from said platform and down said tracks and auxiliarj.7 tracks in place of said track portions for said automobile to travel down during such removal.

8. In a grease rack for automobiles, a pi\7` oted platform for supporting an automobile, inclined tracks for positioning an autom@ bile on said platform by driving the automobile up tbe tracks and tlie wlieels at the upper end of the automobile off the upper ends of the tracks, slidable blocks on said platform for the axle of said wheels to engage while the wlieels are travelinff up said tracks, portions of said tracks being removable to allow tipping of said platform to a position where said wheels are above alignment with said tracks to facilitate removal of the automobile from the platform and down the tracks.

9. In a. grease rack for automobiles, a pivoted platform for supporting an automobile, inclined tracks for positioning an automobile on said platform by driving tlie automobile up tlie tracks and the wheels at the upper end of the automobile off the upper ends of tlie tracks, portions of said tracks being removable to allow tipping of said platform to a position where said wheels are above alignment with said tracks to facilitate removal of tlie automobile from the platform and down the tracks.

10. In a grease rack for automobiles, a pivoted platform for supporting an autoincbile, inclined tracks for positioning an automobile on said platform by driving tlie automobile up tbe tracks and tbe wheels at tbe upper end of tlie automobile off the upper ends of the tracks, tlie pivotal axis of said platform being adjustable longitudinally of said tracks, portions of said tracks being removable to allow tipping of said platform to a position where said wheels are above aligiu ment witli said tracks to facilitate removal of the automobile from the platform and down tlie tracks.

l1. In a grease rack for automobiles, a pivo-ted platform for supporting an automobile, inclined tracks for positioning an automobile on said platform bv driving the autel mobile up the tracks andthe wheels at tbe upper end of tbe automobile off tbe upper ends of the tracks, a prop for limiting pivotal movement of said platform and said automobile after suoli positioning, portions of said tracks being removable to allow tipping of said platform to a position where said wheels are above alignment with said tracks to facilitate removal of tlie automobile from tbe platform and down tlie tracks.

SEVERT Of. HOUGE. 

